Cable binder

ABSTRACT

A cable binder is disclosed herein having an elongated, flexible band formed with a plurality of apertures arranged in a row along the longitudinal axis of the band. A rigid coupling means is adapted to be insertably disposed through selected ones of the apertures to retain the band about a single cable or a cable bundle. Other selected apertures may be employed to secure the banded cable or bundle to supporting structure.

United States Paten l 13,601,863

72 Inventor MiltonDorsey 2,971,231 2/1961 Stoddart .l 24/16PB16637KelsloanSt.,VanNuys,Cal11f.9ll1-6 3,273,213 9/1966 Zurkowski. 24/73cc 211 AppLNo. 826,597 3,502,396 3/1970 Greenberg 351/157 [22] FiledM83121, 1969 FOREIGN PATENTS [45] Patented 997,278 9/1951 France 24/17.1

[54] CABLE BINDER 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 24/16 lPlB B6511 63/01) [50] Field of Search 24/73, 81

HS, 208-2083, 265 SH, 265 BH, 265 H, 214, 73 CC, 81 CC, 2451, 16, 16 PB,17, 17.1, 30.5 PB

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 994,241 6/1911 Blaine24/l7.l 2,857,645 10/1958 Vogelsang 24/245 Primary Examiner-Donald A.Griffin Attorney-Roger A. Marrs ABSTMAQT: A cable binder is disclosedherein having an elongated, flexible band formed with a plurality ofapertures arranged in a row along the longitudinal axis of the band. Arigid coupling means is adapted to be insertably disposed throughselected ones of the apertures to retain the band about a single cableor a cable bundle. Other selected apertures may be employed to securethe banded cable or bundle to supporting structure.

CABLE EINIIIEII BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the InventionThis invention relates to flexible band retainers which may .be readilyemployed to mount and retain articles, such as which stem from the factthat the retainer sometimes presents sharp edges which tend to sever theinsulation of the cable so as to cause an electrical short. In otherretainers, securement to the supporting structure must be madepreparatory to securement of the retainer to the cable or wire bundle.Still other retainers require that the cable or wire bundle be insertedthrough a closed strap which results in a loose securement of thearticle being retained.

Therefore, a need has long existed to provide a cable binder or retainerwhich may be easily secured about the articles or elements to besupported without requiring excessive accura cy of location. Theconstruction of some conventional retainers requires initial mounting onthe supporting wall prior to securement about the article to besupported.

A retainer should have high retentive qualities in relation to thesupporting structure as well as the supported article. The material ofthe retainer must provide characteristics for effec' tively insulatingthe article electrically, thermally, and mechanically from thesupporting structure. Thus, the article mounted by means of the retaineris not likely to be electrically grounded through the retainer if it isof an electrical nature. Heat will not likely be transferred through theretainer either to or from the article supported and vibrations presentin either the supporting article or the supporting structure should notbe readily transmitted through the retainer. Positive locking featuresof the retainer for locking the retainer to the supporting structure aswell as independently locking the retainer to the article beingsupported is a prime necessity.

Conventional retainers which present some of the abovementioned problemsare disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 2,896,889; 2,971,231; and 3,059,359.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the above difticulties andproblems encountered with conventional wire or cable retainers areobviated by the present invention which provides a length of resilientor elastic material having a plurality of holes extending throughout itslength along the longitudinal axis thereof midway between the oppositeedges of the material. Additionally, a coupling means, which in one formcomprises a base having a rigid post or shank terminating in a roundedhead, is employecl and may be insertably forced through selected re--gistered or aligned ones of the apertures to secure a cable or Wirebundle within a loop formed by the material as closed by the couplingmeans.

In another form of the invention, the coupling means may comprise abuckle including a rigid tong or hook which is insertably receivedthrough the selected aligned apertures of the elastic means.

The elastic material may take the form of a flexible band and thecoupling means, either of the button type or of the hook type, may benormally attached at one end of the band to a cable and then the bandstretchably wrapped for one turn around the cable or bundle. Because ofthe elastic character of the band, the fastening or coupling means canbe attached under tension and so provide a secure means for holding thecable in a desired rigid bundle by itself, or for attaching the cablesto some part of the equipment for convenient stowage by employing otherselected apertures in the elastic material.

Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention toprovide a novel cable or wire retainer having the advantages ofsimplicity of manufacture, ease of handling and, when assembled witharticles to be secured, provides a unitary construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel wire orcable retainer for securing or binding a plurality of cables with morethan one turn of an elongated band or strap thereabout.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel cableretainer or binder that provides a quick release of secured cableswithout disassembly of parts which normally may result in cutting,damage or other physical alteration or modification of the retainer.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a novelcable binder for temporarily or permanently holding together anassortment of articles, such as hanks, coils or bundles of rope, wire,electrical cables, rods, tubing, doweling, or the like when not in useduring storage.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel cablebinder for securing the cables to supporting structure as an assemblyand which avoids loss or misplacement when cables, rope or the like arenot in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the present inventionwhich are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in theappended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization andmanner of operation, together with further objects and advantagesthereof, may best be understood by reference to the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. I is a plan view of the novel cable retainer or binder of thepresent invention illustrated preparatory for use in binding a cable orwire bundle;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section'of the cable bindershown in FIG. I as taken in the direction of arrow s 2 -2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cable binder shown in a typicalapplication for supporting a cable or as an initial step in assembly forsecuring a plurality of cables;

FIG. t is a perspective view similar to the view of FIG. 3 illustratingthe cable binder in an application for binding and supporting a cablebundle;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5illustrated in a typical application for binding a cable bundle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. I, the novelcable binder or retainer of the present invention is indicated in thegeneral direction of arrow 10 which includes, in one form of theinvention, a longitudinally extending band or strap 11 which is providedwith a plurality of holes or apertures 112 that are linearly spacedrelative to each other in a row along the length of the band II. Theband II is composed of flexible and elastic material and is preferablyfabricated from a suitable grade of rubber or of an equivalentrubberlike plastic composition. The desired elasticity is about midwaybetween the well-known rubber band and a strip of leather; in otherwords, neither fully elastic nor nonelastic.

The cable fastener or binder I0 further includes a coupling meansindicated in FIG. 2 by the arrow I3. The coupling means may take theform of a button or stud-type fastener having a circular base M formedwith an upstanding shank 15 extending from the center thereof and normalto an annular base surface In. The free end of shank I5 terminates in arounded head or bead 17 so that the bead is of a greater diameter thanthe shank 15. Preferably, the entire fastener or stud I3 is covered witha suitable dielectric vinyl coating as in dicated by numeral 18. Thefastener 13 is rigid and stiff and is sufficiently strong under allconditions of use so that it will not deform, flex or distort. The crosssection dimension of the head 17 is slightly greater than the diameterof the hole 12 so that the head 17 must be forcibly inserted into thehole by means of the strap material surrounding the hole yielding underthe thrust of insertion.

In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that a two-piece cable retaineris provided including the flexible strap or band 11 and the rigid studfastener 13. Initially, the stud 13 is pressed through a selectedaperture so that its head 17 passes therethrough and the strap is sliddownwardly on the shank 15 in seating abutment with the circular flange16 of base 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the strap 11 is wound around a cable 20 withthe base 14 of the fastener resting against the exterior surface of thecable. The end of strap 11 terminates as indicated by numeral 21 and thelength of strap is wrapped about the exterior surface of the cable asindicated by numeral 22 representing a single turn of the strap. Theenlarged head or bead 17 of the stud fastener is pressed throughregistered apertures 12 as the strap overlays upon itself. Thus, aclosed loop portion is formed substantially extending between theregistered apertures that encircles the cable 20. Although the first andthird apertures from the end of the strap are illustrated as being inregistry so as to receive the shank or stud fastener 15, it is to beunderstood that any pair of apertures or more may be employed, ifdesired. Furthermore, since the composition of the band or strap 11 issubstantially elastic, flexible and resilient, the alignment or registryof selected ones of the apertures may be made by stretching the band soas to ensure a tight strap loop about the cable. By this means, improvedsecurement is assured between the strap and the cable.

Once the loop has been formed by the registry of selected apertures andthe stud fastener engaged therethrough, a substantial length of strapextends from the cable securement and this extended length may beemployed for connecting the retainer to a supporting structure or forcarrying the cable. Securement to the supporting structure may be madeby wrapping the extended length of strap therearound and fasten ing witha stud fastener in a similar fashion to that previously described. As analternative, other fasteners. or coupling means may be employed forsecuring the strap to the supporting structure. If desired. the cablemay be handled or carried by the extended portion of the strap when itis not desired to secure the cable to supporting structure.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the cable retainer of thepresent invention is illustrated in a typical application for bindingand retaining a plurality of cable in the form of a bundle. In such anapplication, the stud fastener 13 and the strap 11 are initially securedto cable 20 as previous described, However, the strap is then woundabout the entire cable bundle and stretched so as to register and aligna third aperture 12 with the two previous apertures on shank 15. Thislatter aperture is then forced over bead 17 onto shank in combinationwith the underlying layers of strap material. In essence, a double loopis now defined wherein the first loop encircles and is held onto cableand a second loop is defined which encircles all of the cables in thebundle including cable 20. The remaining extension of strap 11 may beemployed for carrying purposes or for securement to a supportingstructure, if desired.

Referring now in detail to FIG. 5, another embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated in the general direction of arrow 25 which isemployed for securement to a cable 26. Retainer 25 includes strap 11 aspreviously described with respect to embodiment 10. However, thecoupling means is modified to employ a buckle 27 having a crossbar 28separating a pair of elongated openings 30 and 31. One end of the buckleincludes an outwardly projecting and cantilevered hook 32 which is of asubstantially S-shaped configuration in side elevation. In detail, thehook comprises an arcuate portion 33 having a concave curvature facingthe buckle crossmember 28 and a second arcuate portion 34 having areverse curvature which terminates in a flat tip 35. Hook 32 isintegrally formed with one end of the buckle as indicated by numeral 36and the other end of the buckle is defined by a member 37. The exteriorsurface of the buckle is coated with a suitable plastic material.

Initially, the strap 1 1 is secured to buckle 27 by inserting the tip ofhook 33 through a selected aperture 12 and then the strap is slid alongthe shank of the hook so as to reside on the arcuate section 33. Thefree end of strap 11 is then threaded through opening 31, under crossbar28 and upwardly through opening 30 and then across an end member 37. Asthe portion of the strap passes under crossbar 28 between openings 31and 30, the cable 26 is captured therebetween and pressed against theunderside of the flat buckle. For securing a single cable, the extendingportion of strap 1 1 from opening 30 may now be looped over the end ofhook 35 so that a selected aperture in the strap may be passed onto theshank of the hook and urged down against the first portion of the strapengaged on the hook.

In FIG. 6, a cable is bundled by initially securing cable 26 to thebuckle and by wrapping the extended portion of the strap 11 about theentire bundle so that a selected aperture therein can be slipped ontothe hook 33. The extended portion of the band or strap will be retainedon the hook since its detachment or disassembly therewith requiresextensive manipulation or working of the band over the arcuate portionof the hook which is readily done manually but cannot be achievedotherwise;

In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that the novel cable retainerof the present invention provides an improved retainer for securingsingle or multiple cable bundles in a satisfactory manner. The device,of either embodiment, is simple to manufacture and may be readilyemployed for its intended purpose by unskilled workers. The cable orcable bundle is held together as a unit by means of the resilient-orelastic character of the strap composition as the loops are formed aboutthe cable or cable bundle.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in theappended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of this invention. 1 I

What is claimed is: l. A retainer for attachingand supporting an articleto a supporting structure, the combination comprising:

an elongated flexible band having a plurality of apertures uniformlyspaced along its length in a row substantially midway between theopposite side edges thereof;

coupling means having a-flat base and a shank outwardly extending fromsaid base;

a loop portion of said band stretchably extending around said article inengageable contact therewith and being defined between insertableengagement of said shank with aligned and registered selected ones ofsaid band apertures; and

said coupling means comprises a buckle fastener having a centralcrossbarseparating a pair of elongated openings and wherein said shank is fixedto one end of said buckle midway between its opposite ends.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said shank comprises ahook having a first arcuate portion exposing its concave curvature tosaid openings and an integral second arcuate portion having a reversecurvature terminating in a flat aperture insertion tip.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein a portion of said band isthreaded from said shank downwardly through one of said openings andupwardly beneath said crossbar through said other opening whereby saidarticle is captured between said band portion and said crossbar.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein 3 ,60 1 8 63 v 5 6 saidarticle comprises a plurality Of cables and one Of said 5, The inventionas defined in claim 4 wherein Cables is captured by Said bandporfiom andanother P 21 third band portion extends away from said buckle fastenertion of said band stretchably encircles and binds all of for attachmentto id supporting structure, 7 i l Q FEWE: l 5 5 7'

1. A retainer for attaching and supporting an article to a supportingstructure, the combination comprising: an elongated flexible band havinga plurality of apertures uniformly spaced along its length in a rowsubstanTially midway between the opposite side edges thereof; couplingmeans having a flat base and a shank outwardly extending from said base;a loop portion of said band stretchably extending around said article inengageable contact therewith and being defined between insertableengagement of said shank with aligned and registered selected ones ofsaid band apertures; and said coupling means comprises a buckle fastenerhaving a central crossbar separating a pair of elongated openings andwherein said shank is fixed to one end of said buckle midway between itsopposite ends.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said shankcomprises a hook having a first arcuate portion exposing its concavecurvature to said openings and an integral second arcuate portion havinga reverse curvature terminating in a flat aperture insertion tip.
 3. Theinvention as defined in claim 2 wherein a portion of said band isthreaded from said shank downwardly through one of said openings andupwardly beneath said crossbar through said other opening whereby saidarticle is captured between said band portion and said crossbar.
 4. Theinvention as defined in claim 3 wherein said article comprises aplurality of cables and one of said cables is captured by said bandportion, and another portion of said band stretchably encircles andbinds all of said cables as a unit.
 5. The invention as defined in claim4 wherein a third band portion extends away from said buckle fastenerfor attachment to said supporting structure.